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Ng SM, Leng LL, Xie QW, Chan JSM, Chan CHY, So KF, Li A, Po KKT, Yuen LP, Ku KS, Choi AWM, Chouliara Z, Cheung ACY, Chan CLW, Emery C. Trust as a mediator in the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and IL-6 level in adulthood. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232932. [PMID: 32413063 PMCID: PMC7228092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been shown to predict the coupling of depression and inflammation in adulthood. Trust within intimate relationships, a core element in marital relations, has been shown to predict positive physical and mental health outcomes, but the mediating role of trust in partners in the association between CSA and inflammation in adulthood requires further study. The present study aimed to examine the impact of CSA on inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and IL-1β) in adults with depression and the mediating role of trust. A cross-sectional survey data set of adults presenting with mood and sleep disturbance was used in the analysis. CSA demonstrated a significant negative correlation with IL-6 level (r = -0.28, p<0. 01) in adults with clinically significant depression, while trust showed a significant positive correlation with IL-6 level (r = 0.36, p < .01). Sobel test and bootstrapping revealed a significant mediating role for trust between CSA and IL-6 level. CSA and trust in partners were revealed to have significant associations with IL-6 level in adulthood. Counterintuitively, the directions of association were not those expected. Trust played a mediating role between CSA and adulthood levels of IL-6. Plausible explanations for these counterintuitive findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siu-Man Ng
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Ling-Li Leng
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Qian Wen Xie
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Jessie S. M. Chan
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Celia H. Y. Chan
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Kwok Fai So
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Ang Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kevin K. T. Po
- Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - L. P. Yuen
- International Association for Health and Yangsheng, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Kam-Shing Ku
- District Elderly Community Service, Haven of Hope Haven of Hope Christian Service, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Anna W. M. Choi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Zoë Chouliara
- Division of Mental Health and Counselling, Abertay University, Dundee, United kingdom
| | - Amos C. Y. Cheung
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Cecilia L. W. Chan
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
| | - Clifton Emery
- The Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, sai wan, Hong Kong
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